A silent sky.

For a long while after leaving the gate to the Realm of Monsters, neither Rachel or Maui said anything. Maui actually made sure he couldn't by shifting into a giant hawk. The awkwardness of the flight was so thick in the air you could have knocked someone out with it.

"You at least know why I did it, right?" The young Master finally asked.

Maui made no indication he'd even heard her.

"I get you getting carried away. It can happen to anyone."

Nothing.

"I also believe in second chances. Even those who least deserve it can surprise you. If I was wrong, well, that justice is left to you. I won't try to intrude any further."

Still nothing.

"Could you at least squawk or something or show you're listening?"

Silence. But she didn't catch the slight twitch of a smile at the edge of his beak. Hoping that meant they were on good terms again the silent journey continued but far less awkwardly.

Land could at last be seen on the horizon. As they neared, Maui dove. Once landed on a large fallen tree with Rachel on his tail feathers he shifted back to himself.

"Okay, the Heart is with us and needs to be returned to the Mother Island. But that alone won't keep her safe as long as those she-demons are still looking for it.

"True. But what now? Neither of us are exactly the type to hunker down and keep it safe in a cave playing mancala until this all blows over."

"Mancala?"

"It's a game. A lot of fun too."

"Before we do anything else," Maui said. He turned to her with his hand out. "Not to say I don't trust your resolve to protect the Heart, but I would feel more comfortable if the Heart stayed with me."

"Fair enough."

Rachel reached into her pocket. Her fingers wrapped around the cool smooth stone. She took it out and placed it in Maui's palm. His hand clenched around it and his entire demeanor seemed to take a sigh of relief.

"So are we just here to rest?"

"Yes and no. This is the nearest Island I didn't pull up. You said you were looking for something important that didn't fit that criteria, right?"

"Criter-? Oh, yes! Thanks for remembering. Hopefully I sense quickly if it's ever here so we don't waste time. All right. Let's start looking."

"Hey,"

"Hmm?"

Rachel turned back to Maui. He wasn't looking at her directly.

"Listen, you…you were right back there. I got carried away. A hero isn't much of a hero if they don't show honor in battle even to enemies. It just felt so easy! Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm grateful you kept me from going off the deep end."

"Hey, even the greatest heroes need someone to watch their backs from time to time. Now, what do you say about going and swatting some Heartless?"

Maui smirked. He looked up and studied the suns placement.

"Most defeated in an hour wins."

"Oh, I don't know," Rachel called her Keyblade. "I'd hate to make a grown demi-god cry. HaHA!"

She dashed into the jungle. With a hearty battle cry Maui swung his fish hook and followed.

"Thirty-two! HA! Eat that!"

"Hy-aah! Thirty-four!"

"What? Impossible!"

"Big ones count as two, right?"

"No they don't! You only have thirty-three. Ya-hah! And now so do I!"

"Thunder! Thirty-five! Don't fall behind big guy. Hours almost up. Thirty-six!"

"Ow! Teach you to bite me. Thirty-four!"

"So when I win, I get to lounge on your back as a bird to the next island, right?"

"Thirty-five! Never going to happen because I'm not losing."

"Thirty-seven!"

"Hey! I saw that one first!"

"What are you, eight? Speaking of, thirty-eight!"

"Ha! Two-in-one strike! Thirty seven! And look, new ones! Hey, they don't look so tough. Callin' it!"

"New-? What do you-?"

Rachel turned to see what he was talking about. Something new had indeed wandered into their battlefield. But it was no Heartless. Tall-hovering beings of ivory and pale gray approached them through the trees. Musical notes danced around them as they waved their skinny, clawed arms over thick books in their other hand.

"Maui! Careful! These aren't Heartless or common Nobodies!"

"Who cares? They just got me to thirty-nine."

Rachel didn't bother trying to explain further until that wave of foes had been defeated.

"WHA-hoo! This is a great way to stay active. What does that put you at?"

"Forty-five. But Maui-."

"Ha! Forty-seven! Now where's the next one?"

"MAUI!"

"What?"

"We need to put the contest on hold!"

"Oh don't tell me you're a sore loser."

"No, I'm not. It's that last group of Nobodies we fought. They were different; stronger. From what I've learned from those with more experience with this type of enemy I can tell you it usually means the one who can control them isn't far away."

"You mean one of the false princesses, as you've called them."

"Yes. I'm not saying we hide but we need to say vigilant. Whichever one it is is likely either looking for what I'm looking for or the Heart."

"Well, she'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands."

Mini Maui agreed fiercely by holding the Heart in one hand and holding his own fish hook in the other.

"I like the sentiment. Let's keep moving."

Silently agreeing the contest would be considered incomplete the heroes continued searching, only now keeping their eyes peeled with more focus.

"There's more of those things the further this way we go." Maui commented.

"I noticed that too. But does that mean this is where they're coming from or where they're going? You know what? Watch my six. I'm going to try something."

"Okay, what?"

Rachel switched her Keyblade to Ocean Song. She held it aloft in front of her. The jeweled star sparkled. The young Master closed her eyes. Maui kept just as close an eye on her as he did the jungle for enemies. For several moments she did nothing but focus. Maui found himself startled when a joyful gasp broke the silence. But mere seconds after a bright smile lit up her face it fell again, replaced by a look of horror.

"What happened?" Maui asked firmly.

Rachel opened her eyes. She slowly lowered her Keyblade.

"Riku…"

"What? Wait, wasn't that the name you cried out to the world when we first met? Oh," He said, recognizing something was wrong.

"I…I tried to listen for Heart Songs the way my brother does. And I heard them. Riku is here. But something is-is smothering his Song. He's very near one of the Princesses. But I can't tell what's wrong! We have to-!"

"Hey," Maui put his hand on her shoulder to stop her. "Relax. I don't know what a Heart Song is but if you've got a friend in trouble we'll find him and put everything right. Did your listening thing give you a direction?"

"Y-yeah. It's the opposite direction of the Nobodies we've been fighting. They must have been sent out as a search wave from the one commanding them."

"Then what're we waiting for?" Maui knelt with his back to her. "Hang on."

"A hawk ride? I didn't even win the contest yet." Rachel said, trying to keep herself from worrying.

"Oh, that's still on. I can get us there faster than you can with your dust. Let's go get your friend."

Smiling gratefully Rachel still had to jump to get her arms around Maui's neck. The second she did hair and skin gave way to feathers and the jungle floor transformed into an ocean of green beneath the blue sky. Maui hadn't been kidding. When speed was the objective, he aced it. The land raised into hills and high ledges. Maui circled wide to get the best viewing vantage of their quarry. It didn't take long to spot two human forms standing on a balcony of moss-covered stone, one male, one female. Neither made any kind of move against them as they neared.

"Riku!" Rachel cried after Maui landed on a smaller ledge not far away.

The silver-haired Master didn't look to her. He didn't move at all.

The beautiful woman beside him however looked down on them with the most disconcerting smile.

"Well, well, such a fortunate turn of events. I thought I sensed other Hearts on this island. My suspicions were confirmed when my Composers stopped reporting back. And all the heroes to cross our path here, how wonderful that it was you, Magic Master."

"Riku!" Rachel cried again, Keyblade appearing in hand. "What have you done to him!"

"There is no reason to fear. No harm has befallen him since he so graciously volunteered to protect me."

"What have you done!" Rachel yelled, hurling a ball of energy at Adaira.

In a blink the magic was cut down…but not by Adaira. Riku suddenly had his Keyblade in hand and had slashed through the attack. He held a shielding stance in front of the Nobody Princess. Once he moved Rachel saw his eyes. A clammy prickle of dread washed over her skin. She had never seen him so distant before. The brightness in his bold blue eyes was gone.

"Riku…"

Only observing until then, Maui took a protective stance in front of Rachel.

"I don't know what kind of witchcraft this is but be careful. That isn't really your friend."

"Yes it is! Riku! I know you can hear me! Fight her!"

"Adorable," Adaira said, tossing a lock of gold hair over her shoulder. "There is no fighting my song. I have enticed many with stronger wills than your friend and none of them have had the power to break free of my spell."

"You don't know Riku," Rachel growled.

"Perhaps not," Adaira said patronizingly. "But since all you hero types are the same I am not terribly worried." She looked between Rachel and Maui smiling mockingly. "You saw for yourself. His desire is to protect me."

"Fat chance!" Rachel took her battle stance. Magic energy crackled and popped around the jeweled star of Ocean Song. "Riku! Listen to me, not her! I know you've broken free of opposing wills before, Riku!"

The young Master made to step forward but Maui put out a hand to stop her. His gaze locked with Adaira.

"Let the boy go," He ordered darkly yet calmly.

She smiled. "Or what? You intend to fight me for his freedom? Surely you do not mean to trade his freedom for that trinket you carry."

"Ha!" Maui chortled. "This?" He held the hook in a battle-ready position. "Hardly. But it will be what I use if you decide to remain disagreeable."

"I wasn't talking about your fish hook."

Rachel straightened up, surprised and concerned. Maui's expression darkened.

"What are you talking about?"

"Do not bother playing dumb. Did you really think you could bring the Heart of a goddess literally a stones throw away from me and I would be unable to sense its true nature? Honestly. Did you think my sisters were merely searching with their eyes for a little green stone? It is almost insulting just how often we have been underestimated since this part of our plan began. However, I am not unreasonable. I would be favorable to a trade."

"I'm actually in favor of the fighting option!" Rachel snapped. "Listen to my voice, Riku! You can resist her! You can break free I know you can!"

A territory lies between the realms of protective devotion and absolute faith and trust in someone. Unpleasant circumstances can land one right in the middle of it. This territory is strewn with jagged rocky plains of fear, doubt and battered with winds of uncertainty. You desperately wish to be in one land or the other. However, your circumstance makes the choice a difficult one. Rachel knew many of the challenges Riku had endured over the last few years. Some led to growth. Others were traumatic and took much longer to come to terms with. However, he always made it out. She had seen many of the forms his strength took. He could overcome this too, right? Then there was the side as his girlfriend that went practically feral at the thought of anyone or anything doing him harm. And, as illogical as it sounded, part of her felt rushing into the rescue was an act of doubt of his abilities. At the moment it was even harder to pick a side when the situation had no clear solution.

If Adaira wasn't just puffing up her confidence in her ability? Rachel would never give up, of course, but where to start to dispel that magic? Even if she could break Adaira's hold, how long would that success last with the original caster right there? On top of that, the princess could sense the Heart! A trade was out of the question. Too much was at stake and Adaira had no trust points to be considered at all.

Maui, no stranger to the high-on-caffeine, two left-footed samba human emotions could dance to sensed Rachel's conflict.

"This is the last time I'll be civil. Let the boy go from your spell and leave."

Adaira looked down on Maui coldly. "Your immortality does not come with authority and certainly not over me.

A dozen Composers arose around her. She stepped beside Riku. After halting Rachel's attack he hadn't moved from his defensive position or dismissed his Keyblade. Adaira brushed her fingertips over the hand still held out to defend her. A tiny beast of magma and fury snapped to life in Rachel's stomach. It raised its quills and clawed away from the inside. The feeling was new and its suddenness uncomfortable yet not for a millisecond did she think to silence or disagree with it.

The false princess took a breath then seemed to shatter the very air of the world with a long, hauntingly beautiful note of song. Both Rachel and Maui flinched, prepared to, or at least try to, resist whatever was coming. They needn't have worried as they were not the targets. Strangely though, they could hear faint words even though Adaira was only singing notes.

They mean to hurt me. They have something of mine. Keep me safe. You want to keep me from harm. By any means necessary.

"RIKU!" Rachel tried to shout over the enchanting song.

The Composers moved in for the attack. Riku followed.

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope everyone's Christmas is fun, safe and full of the spirit this time of year is all about. Thank you for sticking with me for so long and this story that I've truly adored bringing to life.

Sorry if there are scattered spelling errors. I worked hard to have this ready for Christmas day so I had to type fast and sometimes 'think' became 'thing' etc. Since it's not a misspelled word it didn't show up as incorrect.

Title Translation: What is Gone is Gone